Thailand's new Charter expected to be completely drafted sooner

BANGKOK, February 5 (TNA) - The drafting of Thailand's new Charter will, probably, be completed ahead of schedule, paving the way for a new general election, likely to be held by early next year. Borwornsak Uwanno, Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC), told journalists of the update on Thursday, saying that he felt no pressure in the Constitution drafting although Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha has announced that the Charter drafting should finish within one year, as set in the government’s national reform roadmap. Borwornsak emphasized that a referendum would be held before the new Constitution could be promulgated, noting that the currently-used provisional Constitution would be amended to permit the referendum and several factors, including the referendum and the National Legislative Assembly (NLA)'s passage of organic laws, would indicate whether Thailand's next general election could happen sooner. Meanwhile, the prime minister told reporters, after Wednesday's joint meeting of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), the Cabinet, NLA, the National Reform Council (NRC) and CDC at the Army Club in Bangkok, that he is satisfied with progress in legislation and the Constitution drafting. The prime minister conceded, however, that he is concerned over a remaining limited timeframe when his government's short and long-term plans need to be implemented prior to the new general election. According to the prime minister, the first draft of the Constitution will surely be completed within April 2015 and it may be sooner, as CDC wants to finish it early to gather opinions from all sectors. The prime minister assessed that Thailand's next general election should take place early next year after organic laws and relevant mechanisms were in place. (TNA)